Influential Woman · Pediatric Therapy

Vanessa Labadie

Regional Operations Manager, MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy

Plymouth, MI

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Associate's Degree

Her Story

About Vanessa

My career journey has taken me through 20 years of leadership across diverse environments. I started in high-pressure executive kitchens, then transitioned to hospital food service before finding my calling in pediatric therapy. Today, as a regional operations manager, I run multiple locations and handle everything from operations and compliance to marketing and sales. What I'm most proud of is my evolution as a leader - I used to be a micromanager with a 'let me do it, I'll do it right' mentality, but I've transformed into a servant leader. Now my passion is pouring into my people and watching them grow and step into leadership themselves. I've been with my current company for 7 years, and I couldn't think of a better place to work - their mission is strong, the work is rewarding, and we've built personal relationships that make everything run smoother.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Vanessa

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my colleagues and mentors. They have really believed in me, and that made me believe in myself. Having that support system of people listening to my ideas and holding me accountable has been crucial. My support system is what has helped me get to where I am today.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Don't bring a problem to someone without the solution.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say don't be small. Don't be small and trust yourself.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

We see this as an exciting time in pediatric therapy, with growing awareness and demand allowing us to reach more families than ever before. One of the biggest opportunities is continuing to expand access to high-quality, multidisciplinary care while supporting and developing strong teams to meet that need. At MetroEHS, we are focused on investing in our people, enhancing collaboration across disciplines, and leveraging innovative approaches to ensure every child receives personalized, effective care. We’re proud to be part of a field that is evolving in such a meaningful and impactful way.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Personally, God is really important to me. I want to make sure that he's in everything that I do, that I lead through example and try to bring people to him. Honesty is crucial - I'm honest to a fault. Being there for people is important to me. In my leadership, I bring that through by pouring into people and noticing things about them, genuinely caring about them, because leadership isn't just 9 to 5. Leadership is all of the time.

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